Organizers are still looking for volunteers as RAGBRAI riders will “book it to Iowa City” in less than a month.
Riders will start in Onawa on July 22 and ride 428.1 miles to Davenport with overnight stops in Denison, Jefferson, Ames, Newton, Sigourney, and Iowa City.
Nick Pfeiffer, the marketing and communications director for the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau, said there are approximately 12,000 registered riders this year, but he anticipates anywhere from 15,000 to 20,000 will show up in Iowa City for the event.
Pfeiffer said 500 volunteers are needed to accommodate the large number of visitors; currently, approximately 35 percent of the positions are filled. Drawing from his experience when Coralville hosted a RAGBRAI overnight in 2015, he noted that it is normal to have a large number of unfilled volunteer positions a month out, but added the group still needs the volunteers.
Tricia Brown, the communications director of University of Iowa Strategic Communication, said the university will roll out the welcome mat for the overnight stop with open houses for various colleges, university buildings, as well as Kinnick Stadium and Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The UI will also provide campus tours and set up wayfinding and help booths.
“We’re excited to show off our beautiful campus to the state and the world,” Brown said in an email to The Daily Iowan.
Another area of volunteers needed for RAGBRAI is housing. Pfeiffer said organizers could use 40 more people in Iowa City, preferably near downtown, to open their yards or homes for riders to stay the night.
The main local campground will be located at City Park. The location is where the RAGBRAI truck will drop off bags and where the main first-aid tent will be located.
Iowa City Parks & Recreation Program supervisor Jeff Sears, one of the campground committee chairs for the event, said there are 30 to 40 acres of land available for camping as well as food trucks and a swimming pool.
He noted that some riders will choose to stay elsewhere for the night, but he believes City Park will have room to accommodate everyone.
“If it’s a small group or somebody that’s on their own, City Park is the place to go,” Sears said.
UI facilities and grounds will not be open for housing or camping.
Pfeiffer said the overnight stop will be a great opportunity for people to experience downtown Iowa City, and he thinks they will find everything is still easy to access despite the construction on the Pedestrian Mall.
The RAGBRAI organization tells host cities such as Iowa City that the real benefit will come in the following months and years when riders return to the city.